CHARLINCH

THE ancient parish, which may have taken its
name from the hill on which the church stands,
lay in three parts in undulating countryside 4
km. west of Bridgwater. The two largest parts,
both irregular in shape, included most of the
settlements, and were divided from each other
by a narrow strip of Spaxton parish. One included Charlinch hamlet and Gothelney and
measured 3 km. from east to west and 1 km.
from north to south. The second, to the northwest, included Rowden, Currypool, Padnoller,
and Swang, in an area measuring 3 km. from
east to west and 1.5 km. from north to south at
its widest point. The third, known as Bush, lay
south-west beyond Spaxton village, 3 km. from
Charlinch church. (fn. 1) The parish contained c.
1,450 a. (587 ha.), all of which was by stages
added to Spaxton: in 1882 Bush (95 a., with 2
houses and 6 inhabitants), (fn. 2) in 1933 Currypool
(731 a.), (fn. 3) and in 1981 the remainder (624 a.). (fn. 4)

The boundaries of the parish seldom followed
natural features. Roads north-west of Bush and
south-east of Currypool marked divisions with
Spaxton. Currypool lies on gravel in the valley
of the Cannington brook, the land rising gently
from there south-west towards Rowden, reaching 76 m. and north-west to a spur 76 m. high
on marls and Leighland slates dividing it from
a second shallow valley. The land rises again to
the north above Swang reaching 75 m. Charlinch
church is on the western end of a knoll, at a
height of 72 m., from which the land falls gently
east to Gothelney, in an area of marls, slates,
limestone, and gravels. Bush occupies an area of
slates, grits, and marls on the steeper, higher,
Quantock slopes between 76 m. and 183 m. (fn. 5)
Marl digging may account for ponds in the north
part of the parish (fn. 6) and there was a quarry at
Bush in 1822. (fn. 7)

The settlement pattern of scattered farmsteads
had probably been established by 1086 when
Charlinch, Currypool, Gothelney, and Swang
were in existence. (fn. 8) Padnoller was recorded in
1199. (fn. 9) There is no nucleated village in the
parish and the largest settlement was probably
Gothelney where in 1837 a group of houses, now
reduced to one, lay around the green south of
the manor house. Only the rectory house and a
cottage adjoin the church. There may also have
been a concentration of houses around the junction of Charlinch lane and the road to the
church, (fn. 10) and there is a scatter of houses along
Charlinch lane, mostly of the 20th century,
especially at the western end by Four Forks. The
remainder of the parish consists of compact
farms with a few roadside cottages. The name
Bush may indicate medieval clearance on the
hillside. (fn. 11) It has been a single farm since the 17th
century, probably in succession to two tenements, Holminbush and Northbarn. (fn. 12) New farm
buildings were erected possibly c. 1871. (fn. 13) The
name Rowden has not been found before the late
18th century. (fn. 14)

In 1648 and 1649 large numbers of people from
Ireland who were relieved by the parish (fn. 15) were
probably using the Nether Stowey to Bridgwater
road. The road known as Oldway (fn. 16) formed the
parish boundary for two short stretches east and
south of Currypool, and parts of the two Bridgwater turnpike roads, from Nether Stowey and
Four Forks in Spaxton also ran through the
parish. All the settlements, however, lie on
minor roads. (fn. 17)

No evidence of open-field arable has been
found and the pattern of farmsteads surrounded
by their fields is probably ancient. There was a
park at Currypool, probably by 1327 when
Robert the parker was recorded. (fn. 18) In 1569 it was
said to be a mile in circumference, (fn. 19) but it appears
to have been divided into fields c. 1618 although
fallow deer remained in the area after that date. (fn. 20)
The field names Lawn, Park ground, and Rail
close still in use in 1837 suggest that the park
lay west of Currypool Farm. The field names
Warren and Park hill at Gothelney suggest a
warren and possibly a park there. A small part
of Radlet Common lay in the parish but it had
been inclosed and was the property of Henry
Labouchere in 1837. (fn. 21)

Fifteen acres of wood were recorded in 1086. (fn. 22)
Timber at Currypool, including timber in the
park, was being felled in the early 17th century, (fn. 23)
and the tenant of Currypool in 1689 was required to plant two oak, ash, or elm every year. (fn. 24)
Higher Wood, recorded in 1837, may be the site
of ancient woodland, and by the same date over
45 a. of plantation and willow had been established at Currypool. (fn. 25) In 1905 41 a. of woodland
remained (fn. 26) and some woodland survives near
Currypool.

Twenty taxpayers were recorded in 1327 (fn. 27) and
36 houses were charged for or exempted from
hearth tax in 1665 and 1670. (fn. 28) In 1791 130
people were said to live in 25 houses, but that
probably did not include detached areas. (fn. 29) The
population rose between 1801 and 1821 from 183
to 251, fluctuated 1831-91 between 200 and 240,
and fell to 158 in 1901. (fn. 30) In 1921 the total was
182 of whom 63 lived in the area transferred to
Spaxton in 1933. (fn. 31) The population in the remaining portion of the parish had fallen to 49 in
1981 when the civil parish was abolished. (fn. 32)